Manipulate

"The Wolfmen make the perfect predator to our kind because they can draw humans in with their charms." Clarice spoke to Sophia as they finally made it to a large tree that seemed to be different in color to the rest of the trees. The seer decided this morning would be a great time to teach some history of the race to Sophia who was already annoyed at being woken up so early. "You see, the skies enjoyed the creation and took special interest in their race."

"Their human appearance is attractive to the human eye in every way. Whatever attracts you, they will have that detail! They also have a smell that entices the people to trust them even though they have very little empathy compared to us. But you must remember, you are still the prey in their eyes even though they can appear like us. They will not look at you as an equal, but a source of survival. Whenever they seem like they won't attack, they will! They are not sympathetic to humans."

Clarice continued her rant making Sophia go into a daze since she grew bored with the presentation. Her mind travelled back to the moment she saw golden eyes staring back at her the night of the picking. The golden color had been something see continued to see in her dreams every night.

Was it just her imagination or was there actually someone watching her?

It also didn't help that the seer woman had the audacity to take Sophia into the forbidden woods reassuring her that no harm would come. Sophia also pondered what would happen to both of them if Randel discovered they disobeyed the law.

Suddenly Clarice's cane struck the girl upon the head making a loud sound causing her a great deal of pain.

"Ouch!" She screamed out loud glaring at the blind seer. "What the hell was that for Clarice?" Sophia whined not giving her respect mentioning her title.

"You aren't paying attention. I can sense it."

"There's no way you could know that!" Sophia argued rubbing her head trying to reduce the pain from the strike. "You might be advance in some ways Madam Clarice, but you definitely don't read minds!"

Clarice chuckled at the outburst knowing that she probably hit the girl a little too hard, but they didn't have much more time. The full moon was approaching and it was nearly time.

"Well, we have important matters to discuss!" She declared pointing her cane toward the red tree.

Sophia rubbed her head glaring at Clarice knowing it was useless. "Tell me again why we have sanctuary in the woods? I thought it was against the law to enter."

Clarice smiled loving to be able to talk so freely. Sophia wasn't interested in the politics in the village which made her teachable. "I have sanctuary because of my relationship with the gods. I never said anything about you having sanctuary tho. If there is a Wolfman about, he might kill you." She chuckled making Sophia gasp ready to run. But Clarice placed her cane down by the girl's feet stopping her from leaving.

"Calm down and just stay by my side. They usually don't hunt in the woods at this hour." the woman laughed. Then Clarice turned making Sophia watch her movements knowing the seer wasn't finished.

"This my child, this is a landmark. This marks the center of the woods and will help you remember paths in the forest. I'm sure the wolf chosen has been running through the mazes for the last couple weeks."

"Well that doesn't sound very fair." Sophia complained hearing the advantage the creature would have against her on the full moon. "They shouldn't have just an advantage."

"Hmm. Things in this life aren't fair. It's best to figure that out now." Clarice said with a shrug so nonchalantly.

Frowning at the cold response from her mentor, Sophia looked toward the red tree that seemed out of place in the forest.

"Why is it a different color?" She asked approaching the bark touching it with her fingers.

"I wouldn't know!" Clarice said. "I can't see it."

Sophia rolled her eyes at the sarcasm the seer seemed to have this evening, but she turned facing the woman waiting for more instructions. Clarice was one to joke a lot and Sophia needed to get all the information possibly today.

"This is the center of the woods Sophia. To your right leads to a grass field opening, but the left will take you to a lake. This is VERY important to remember the night of the hunt." Clarice declared staring nothing in particular as she spoke.

"That seems easy to remember.." Sophia mumbled to herself looking at the tree again thinking it was quite a pretty color compared to the rest of the forest.

"Yes. One more thing child," the seer continued. "When you feel close to home, you are far away. But when you feel far away from home, you are close."

"Is that a riddle Madam Clarice?" Sophia inquired curious to know what she was trying to explain. She was already growing annoyed with the older woman. Some things the seer said could be direct, but other times, it seemed like Clarice enjoyed teasing her.

"I'm simply helping you remember that the woods can be confusing. When someone is in a situation of terror, they try to find a safe passageway home. The woods will mess with your mind and you must not allow yourself to let it!"

Sophia nodded before a frowned formed on her face.

"Is this what you teach the other chosen? Am I getting the same advice you gave the other girls?" Sophia was curious to know if the seer actually spent time trying to protect the others like she kept claiming she was doing with Sophia.

"I have given instructions to the others in the pass, but I feel like I should offer more help this year. Call it…intuition." Clarice said slowly. "But I have always tried to protect the girls to the best of my ability. That's why I feel like things need to be different this time around. I am not one to enjoy knowing so many have died."

Clarice's voice croaked at the end which made Sophia understand she truly struggled knowing the others suffered.

"But your advice for them has never worked before…" Sophia muttered.

"They had a high chance to succeed surviving the night with what i told them before they entered the woods." Clarice clarified. "But I have always tried to give the others the best help as I possibly could. I feel the pain of their deaths daily." The seer said with a frown taking a slow breath wanting the girl to realize she had always tried to do her best in protecting the innocent lives. "I can promise you Sophia, my goal is to always help the chosen. I have dedicated my life for this."

Sophia sighed looking around the area. It was clear that one could become lost in the scenery, so she would need to remember her position with this tree in order to remember direction. And she knew the seer was her only source of help.

"So what do I do with this information?"

Clarice smiled widely. "I hope you run toward the lake my dear. You will have a higher chance of survival. Some of the girls forgot the directions due to their fear the night of the hunt. It sadly cost them their lives."

Clarice kept her composure trying to forget some things from the past. But as the seer, she was cursed knowing the girls in the past ran in the open field allowing them to be an easier target. She felt the pain of every single soul that was lost.

"I must go left." Sophia whispered to herself a couple of times. It was something she needed to remember the night of the full moon.

Clarice smiled at the words Sophia said sighing to herself. It was cute how the chosen girl so innocently spoke to herself, but others could hear her and Clarice knew this could become a problem. Even thought the seer couldn't see, she knew Sophia was easily distracted and right now she knew the girl was thinking about things she couldn't explain in one visit.

"You have been told your whole life to fear the Wolfmen."

Sophia immediately perked her head up looking at Clarice with confusion. She noticed the seer standing straight with a composed posture.

"Madam Clarice?" Sophia said slowly stepping toward the seer who was now leaning against the tree. It was true Sophia was curious about the Wolf people, but she was also told they were a subject to avoid.

"I am sad to know that so many don't realize how much love the gods truly have for all of us….I hope you learn how to view us the way they do…There has been too much unnecessary deaths because of this."

Sophia kept quiet listening to Clarice who seemed to be talking mostly to herself lost in a deep thought most people couldn't understand. But Sophia kept some kind of sadness creep into her knowing the lady had a hard life.

Suddenly, Clarice stood up as though she was back to her nutty self making Sophia take a step back with wide eyes.

"You spoke of how the hunt wasn't fair to our kind. So I have a plan to make it so you can outsmart the creature this season." Clarice mentioned with mischief hidden in her voice.

Sophia glanced at the seer smiling at the news that her mentor really did have a plan after all.

"What plan do you have madam?"

Clarice shrugged her shoulders casually before she spoke. "It's something that must stay between the two of us. I must trust you to keep this secret my dear."

Sophia pressed her lips together after hearing this. She knew there was a chance Randel could get her out of this predicament, but deep down, she also knew that the seer really was wise. Maybe the idea that the gods were real and involved could be true and it made Sophia subconsciously agree to anything Clarice said.

Clarice approached the girl slowly until she was in arms reach. She then brought her hand up lifting the girls chin before whispering once again.

"I told you the Wolfmen have special gifts and senses. So we will be manipulating their great gifts against them. Although they are superior to our kind, we must remember that we too are children of the skies."